Window scaffold



WINDOW SCAFFOLD Filed March'l6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JA MESM. 0551a 77' mm .5 C0. ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES WINDOW SCAFFOLD James M. Oberti,San Francisco, Calif.

Application March 16,

' 8 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in window scaiiolds and it consistsof the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a window scaffold that can bereadily moved from place to place by the window washer and which hasnovel and adjustable means for adapting the device to various types ofwindow sills. The structure is such that the weight of the window washeron the platform causes gripping members to increase their force inclamping the device in place. 1

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed in which the cover for the water pail can be used as a drippan for retaining the water draining off the window pane. The pan may bemoved into the desired position for catching water draining from either20 side of the window pane.

Still a further object lies in a floatable member having an area andshape similar to a cross section through the water pail, this memberfloating on the top of the water for preventing its splashing over thepail, and also being used as a support for the brush so that only thebristles of the brush will be immersed.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

My invention is illlustrated in the accompanying drawings forming apartof this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the parts in a different position;

Figure 4 is an end view;

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing the device folded; and

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Figure 2. V

In carrying out my invention I provide a platform 1 of the shape shownin Figure 2. Hooks 2 are secured to the platform 1 by screws 3 or othersuitable fastening means and I have shown additional openings 4 forpermitting an adjustment of the hooks when necessary. The hooks aredesigned to go over the inner edge of a window sill 5 (see Figure 1).

At the opposite end of the platform 1 I mount brackets 6 (see Figures 1and 2) and these brackets pivotally carry legs 7. The legs have a numberof openings 8 therein for receiving a bolt 9 1931. Serial No. 523,094

and in this way the legs are adjustably secured to the platform.

The legs have feet 10 which are pivotally secured at 11 and in Figure lI have shown these legs as resting upon the outer portion of the windowsill. The feet 10 carry adjustable gripping members 12 which are in theshape of threaded shanks having rubber knobs at each end. The legs areso adjusted with respect to the feet 10 that they will be inclined inthe manner shown in Figure 1 when the platform 1 is in a horizontalposition. Any weight placed upon the platform 1 will cause the legs *7to tend to move the feet 10 toward the hooks 2 and thus provide a firmfoundation. 1

In order to prevent the hooks 2 from bending at points adjacent to theplatform 1 I provide an adjustable shoe 13 carried by bars 14 (seeFigures 1 and 2), these bars in turn being slidably mounted in eyelets15. The shoe 13 is wedged between the platform 1 and the window sill 5.

In case the window sill is of a different shape than that shown inFigure 1 and is of less width I adjust the parts in the manner shown inFigure 3.

It Will be seen from this figure that the legs 7 have their secondopenings 8 receiving the bolts 9 and that the feet 10 are pivoted sothat the opposite rubber knob on gripping member 12 engages with theouter face 16 of the building. The feet 10 carry angle members 17 whichengage with the top of the Window sill 5. It will be noted that theparts in this position cause the legs 7 to extend at an angle and thatany weight upon the platform 1 will tend to move the feet 10 toward thehooks 2. As a safety precaution I provide a flexible connecting membersuch as a rope 18 (see Figure 1) that is connected to an eyelet 19 onone of the feet 10 and its other end is passed through an opening 20 inthe platform 1 and has a knot tied for permitting a predeterminedmovement of the feet 10 away from the hooks 2. The rope 18 prevents thefeet 10 from moving entirely off the outer edge of the window sill 5'andthis prevents any accident from occurring.

A safety belt indicated generally at 21 (see Figure 3) is designed to bepassed around the waist of the Window washer and the other end is passedover a supporting spring 22 and then connected to the platform 1 bymeans of a securing device 23 of the type shown in Figures 1 and 3. Incase the window washer does not use the safety belt the spring 22 willsupport the rope connected to the belt in a position where it may bereadily grasped when desired without the necessity of the window washerreaching below carried from place to place.

the platform 1. If the belt is around the window washer and he shouldlose his balance, the spring 22 is flexible enough to straighten out andthe safety belt 21 would support the window washer and in turn besupported by the fastening device 23. The point of attachment is suchthat the weight of the window washer supported by the safety belt willnot pull the platform loose from the window sill. It will be noted fromFigure 3 that the safety belt 21 has a sleeve 37 slidable thereon, thissleeve carrying an eyelet 38. The end of the rope has a hook 39 that maybe snapped onto the eyelet 38. This arrangement provides a safety beltwhich is adjustable to the waist of the wearer.

Figure 4 shows a hinge 24.- that is secured to the platform 1 andcarries a handle 25 and an angle shaped support 26. A water bucket 27has a guide 28 slidable over the handle 25 and the water bucket issupported by the angle member 26. A handle 29 is provided for the waterbucket and is used when the bucket is removed from the device forfilling it with or emptying it of water.

Figure 1 shows that within the water bucket 27 I mount a floatablemember 30 having an area and shape similar to the cross section of thewater bucket. This member normally floats upon the surface of the waterand prevents it from splashing. The member is also buoyant enough tosupport a brush shown at 31 in Figure 1 so that only the bristles willbe immersed in the water.

A cover 32 for the water bucket 27 is shown in Figures 2 and 6. Thiscover has a flange 33 that is designed to enter the water bucket andwhich acts as a retaining wall for a drip pan when the cover isinverted. The cover 32 has a recess 33 with a strip 34 extending acrossthe recess. When the device is in use the cover is inverted and placedupon the hooks 2 so that a tongue 35 carried by the platform 1 will passbeneath the strip 34. In Figure 1 I have shown the inverted cover 32 asbeing disposed beneath a window sash 36 for catching drippings from thesash. The cover is adjustable on the tongue 35 so as to be readilypositioned beneath the window sash.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device theoperation thereof may be readily understood.

The parts are adjusted for the particular shape and size of the windowsill, and since generally all the window sills in a building are thesame, only one adjustment need be made. I have already explained how theparts are positioned when supporting the platform 1. The window washerin carrying the device from one window to another can fold the partsinto the position shown in Figure 5. The entire device including thewater bucket can be carried by the handle 25. It should be noted thatthe handle 25 and the water bucket are swung into a plane parallelingthe surface of the platform 1 when the device is The hinge 24 permitsthis movement.

When the device is placed on the window sill the cover 32 can bepositioned on the tongue 35 and the device is ready for use.

Although I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention it isto be understood that the same is susceptible of various changes and Ireserve the right to employ such changes as may come within the scope ofthe claims hereto annexed.

It should be noted that the hooks 2 are in the shape of an 8 (seeFigures 1 and 3) and the lower portions of the hooks contact with theinner surface of the window sill far more effectively than if they wereprovided with a straight angular bend.

I claim:

1. In a window scaffold, a safety line secured to the underside of thescaffold, and a resilient wire normally holding a portion of the lineabove the device where it may be readily grasped by the operator.

2. In a window scaffold, a platform, means for clamping the platform toa window sill, a drip pan, and means for adjustably securing the pan tothe platform and beneath a window sash.

3. A window scaffold comprising a platform, hooks carried by saidplatform, wall gripping members carried by said platform, a platformsupporting block adjustably disposed beneath the platform and threadedshanks carried by the gripping memb rs and having rubber heads disposedat each end.

4. A window scaffold comprising a platform, hooks carried by saidplatform, wall gripping members carried by said platform, a platformsupporting block adjustably disposed beneath the platform, means forlimiting the movement of the gripping members in one direction andthreaded shanks carried by the gripping members and hav-- ing rubberheads disposed at each end.

5. A window scafiold comprising a platform,

means carried by the platform for engaging with the interior surface ofa wall, legs pivotally secured to the platform, and L-shaped feetpivotally secured to the legs for engaging with a window sill and withthe exterior surface of the wall.

6. A window scaffold comprising a platform,

means carried by the platform for engaging with the interior surface ofa wall, legs pivotally secured to the platform, L-shaped feet pivotallysecured to the legs for engaging with a window sill and with theexterior surface of the wall, and threaded shanks carried by theL-shaped feet and having rubber heads disposed at each end. 7 7. Thecombination with a window scaffold having a' platform on which theoperator stands, and means for clamping the scaffold to a window sill,of a safety rope secured to the platform and having a looped end forencircling the waist, the clamping means being so arranged as to gripthe window sill structure more tightly when the safety rope exerts apull on the platform.

8. The combination with a water bucket carrying frame, of a supportingplatform hinged to the frame and being swingable from a horizontalposition into one paralleling the frame, and wall engaging memberspivoted to the platform for securing the platform to a sill, and beingswingable into parallel relation with the platform, whereby the platformand members may be swung into a vertical plane adjacent to the bucketcarrying frame when moving a water bucket, carried by the frame, fromone window to another.

JAMES M. OBERTI.

